BILL NUMBER: ACR 56	CHAPTERED  05/14/99

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   30
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   MAY 14, 1999
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   MAY 13, 1999
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 13, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 13, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 13, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Wiggins
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Chesbro)
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Ackerman, Alquist, Aroner, Ashburn,
Baldwin, Bates, Battin, Baugh, Bock, Brewer, Briggs, Calderon,
Campbell, Cardenas, Cardoza, Cedillo, Corbett, Correa, Cox, Cunneen,
Davis, Dickerson, Ducheny, Dutra, Florez, Frusetta, Granlund, Havice,
Hertzberg, Honda, House, Jackson, Keeley, Knox, Kuehl, Leach,
Lempert, Leonard, Longville, Machado, Maddox, Maldonado, Margett,
Mazzoni, McClintock, Migden, Nakano, Olberg, Oller, Rod Pacheco,
Papan, Pescetti, Reyes, Romero, Runner, Scott, Shelley, Soto,
Steinberg, Strickland, Thompson, Thomson, Torlakson, Villaraigosa,
Wayne, Wesson, Wildman, Wright, and Zettel)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Alarcon, Alpert, Baca, Bowen, Brulte,
Burton, Costa, Dunn, Escutia, Figueroa, Hayden, Haynes, Hughes,
Johannessen, Johnson, Johnston, Karnette, Kelley, Knight, Leslie,
Lewis, McPherson, Monteith, Morrow, Mountjoy, Murray, O'Connell,
Peace, Polanco, Poochigian, Rainey, Schiff, Sher, Solis,
Vasconcellos, and Wright)

                        MAY 6, 1999

   Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 56--Relative to California
Winemaking Families and Grape Growers Appreciation Day.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 56, Wiggins.  California Winemaking Families and Grape Growers
Appreciation Day.
   This measure would commend the family vintners and grape growers
of this state and would designate the day of May 17, 1999, as
California Winemaking Families and Grape Growers Appreciation Day.




   WHEREAS, California's proud wine making and grape growing heritage
is integrally connected to the cultural, religious, and familial
traditions of this state; and
   WHEREAS, California's wine making history began in 1769 when Padre
Junipero Serra planted the first vinyards in San Diego; and
   WHEREAS, The Gold Rush of 1849 transformed northern California
into an important viticulture region when many "49ers" planted grapes
and made wine, along with many other immigrant families throughout
California; and
   WHEREAS, California has become the leading producer of wine in
America, now accounting for 90 percent of all wine, foreign and
domestic, consumed in this country; and
   WHEREAS, The wine industry is comprised primarily of family-owned
enterprises, with 800 winery families and 4,000 growers promoting
responsible stewardship of agriculture resources; and
   WHEREAS, Wine grape growing and production is a significant
agriculture industry in 43 of California's 58 counties, with an
estimated grape crush value of $1.5 billion; and
   WHEREAS, California wine grape growers produced an all-time record
of more than 2.9 million tons in 1997, on more than 407,231 acres;
and
   WHEREAS, Grapes are the second largest agricultural commodity in
California and the sixth largest commodity in the nation, with
California's grape production ranking fourth internationally after
Italy, France, and Spain; and
   WHEREAS, The California wine industry is estimated to account for
$10.9 billion in economic activity, providing 100,000 full-time jobs,
and 300,000 seasonal part-time jobs, and the generation of more than
$626 million in taxes and fees annually; and
   WHEREAS, The California wine industry has flourished despite
fires, floods, a revolution, military occupation, insect
infestations, and Prohibition; and
   WHEREAS, Wine grape growing enhances the environmental beauty of
the state by preserving open space; and
   WHEREAS, California wines frequently distinguish themselves as the
best in the world in competitions and tastings, acquiring genuine
respect for quality from foreign competitors; and
   WHEREAS, Wine consumed in moderation enhances the appetite and
provides delicious accompaniment to all types of regional cuisine in
California, and enriches the quality of life for the citizenry of the
state; and
   WHEREAS, The wine industry enhances California's quality of life
through generous contributions to health, civic, and educational
organizations; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
commends the family vintners and grape growers of this state for
their dedication to quality and also commends them for their
commitment to enhancing their environment and communities; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the day of May 17, 1999, be proclaimed as
"California Winemaking Families and Grape Growers Appreciation Day,"
to promote the recognition and appreciation of the families of
California's wine industry; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
